Clamp fasteners



A. B. HULSE, JR

CLAMP FASTENERS Sept. 6, 1955 Filed July 23, 1949 INVENTOR. A/exanoerfi. flu/ye, Jr:

ATTORNEY United States Patentf) Thisrvinvention .relates to mewand useful improvements in clamp fasteners:

One object of .the invention is to provide "a clamp fastener whereina .lever member is provided with a spiralwedge, convergent toward a shaft on which the lever memberis rotatable-said spiral wedge :being en-- gageable-in anopening in a latch member, whereby rotation of: the lever causes the-spiralwedge to draw the latch member'- toward the shaft to clamp the frame carrying the shaft securely to the object carrying the latch t member.

Another-:object-of the invention is to provide aclamp fastenerof the characterdescribed wherein theframecarrying the shaft upon which the lever ar-m' is-rotated' is-provided -.with a resilientsection, whereby the: lever armnis tightly resiliently held in clamping position;

A-further object of the invention istoprovid'ea clamp 1 fastener of-the character described whereinithe spiral wedge ofthe lever member curves'inwardly toward .the Y shaft uponwhich the lever is rotatable, the: inner-mosh portion of said spiral wedge section being formed with;

a smallcurved portion-concentric with the-.slraft-on which the lever is -pivoted, 'saidconcentric "portion-s bei-ngden-v gageablewith the. latch member when the. 'leverfmem-ber- I is moved to fastening positiomwhereby the leve-n member -is held against-undesired 'pivotalmovementand the:

parts --of the: fastener are locked together- Stilhanothenobject of the invention is tos-provide a clamp fastener -0f the character described wherein the frame supporting the shaft for: the leveraisformed---withi..

means for supporting various objects- A: sti-llffurther object of? the inventionx is .t-to' provide-a clamp fastener of the character described wherein the.

lever:' arm :is itself provided with .means. :for:'supp o rt-ing objects when in--clamped positions Xhother object of a the. invention is. to* provide a clamp fastener-wherein a an robject to be supported: is 'securely clamped between the frame and: the canr surface "of :ihe

leveri arm, so asto be positively heldin place therebe-:-

tweenr':

drawings; thereof, wherein:

Figure '1 is a plan view of a clamp fastener'constructed in:v accordance withwthe invention,

Figure 2 is a transverse :vertical sectionaLview taken onttl e line 22- of.:Figure 1,

Figure 1,

Figure-4 is aview, partly in elevation.andtpartlyflin section,=of-.a modified fformaof the clamp ,fastener, and showing supporting means-on the .lever uarmwfortsupportingobjects on the clamp,

Figure 5 is a top end view of the device'of Figure 4, a

Figure 6 is a side elevation of still another form'of the clamp fastener,

Figure 3 is a top end view of the clamping device of 2,717,145 P tented .Sept. 6, 1955 Figure 7- is a front :plan view ofthe. form of the clamp fastener of Figure 6,

Figure-: 8 -.is a .transversensectional. .view on the line. 8-8 of-Figure 6,

Figure 9 is ..a side-elevation of a stillflfurther'modification tof the clamp. fastenenztandt Figure 10 is a top plan view of the fastenerof Figure..9.

In-the drawings the numeral l. 10 .designates general-.- ly a frame member of a clamp fastener, said frame.mem-.. ber being. :in the. form ofnan. elongate lwire bent to provide a pair- 0f: spaced. substantially parallel base/pop tionsll and having a reverse'bend 12 adjacent each .base t portion forming resilient "supporting arms 13 which carry at-their inner-ends attransverse shaft section :14. t The parts: of a the frame just i describedware preferablyl formed of a singlepieceof resilientmetalli. rod bentlupon itself. in. the shape described and illustrated -in .Figures.t..1

throughslt If desired, the ends .of the base members A lever Hmember-16 is pivotally mounted "on then transverselshaft section 14 of theibase membensaid lever member .being::provided with an opening llhwhich Lfits overwsuch. shaft portion. Formed in the: lever tmembe'rt adjacent theopening 17 is a hook member 18, said hook member havingaa spiral wedge surface 29 curving in-M. wardly with a decreasing radius about-the.- opening .17: as a cemen Atwtheiextreme inner end of. the wedge, surface, :.the. .spira1.:curve is transformed into a-curvedpore tion. 20 which .is concentric with the .opening- 17- inflthe'. lever, forla purpose which will be .hereinaftermore fully. explained;

The hook? 18 having .the spiral wedge,19l thereon is adaptedto the inserted through an opening 21 in .a latchlmember 22 secured .to a support. member. 123 to which theframe of the. clamp is arrangedto be releasably. secured. In .:the form of the invention illustratedin... Figures 1 through3, the latch member isin the .form, of an eyelet screw having an eyelet opening ,21 in Lone end-thereof,t'and screw-threaded into the support-meme. ber 23 so as to be securely aflixed thereto.

The= hook-of the lever member -is arranged to enterthe eyelet opening-whenlthe frame 10 is. positioned on" the support member 23 in the manner shown in -.the. drawings, with-the shaft portion 14 of the frametposi-s tioned in substantially axial alignment with the. outer. end. l of the eyezscrew latch member. The leverarmmayathen i be swung: to move thethook portiontof the .lever arm through the eyelet opening whereupon the wedge,sur=. face 19 lwill' engage the outer portion of the eyeleLopen-m ing=. and draw :theshaft of the clamp framesinwardlya toward the latcheye screw. Thetwedgingaction lthusa obtained will securely ,press the base members ..11...of. the frame.- against the s pport member.;

When the lever arm has been swung to substantially the. position shown-in Figure l, the-concentric. portion 20-of the: curve of .thewedgesurface of the-hook engages the: latchtatflthe eyelet opening, whereupon the wedge'action terminates and iforcesattempting to pivot thelever arm in either: direction about the shaftrare -equalized,since thetforces act directly-fromvthe center of the shaft throughathe.concentricportion of the wedge surface tozthe eyelet latch-members Thus, the lever arm. will remain in: fastened position,.. holding the frame. securely clamped against the support member.

Since the arms 13of. the frame/have been resiliently moved-toward the. support member when:.the .shafthas been moved inwardly by the action of thewedge; surface i on the hook, it willfbe seenlthatlthe frame is positively,- resiliently secured in fastened position against the support member, and the legs may be utilized for supporting various objects, such as platforms, rods, racks and the like.

To release the frame from the support member, the lever arm is turned in the opposite direction to withdraw the hook from engagement in the eyelet opening of the latch eyelet member, whereupon the spiral wedge surface permits the shaft section of the frame to move outwardly to permit the frame to be released from clamping engagement with the support member. When the book has been completely disengaged from the eyelet opening, the frame and lever member may be lifted from the support member.

A modified form of the clamp fastener is illustrated in Figures 4 and 5, wherein the frame 25 is formed with a substantially flat base portion 26 and a pair of spaced arm portions 27 extending outwardly from said base portion at substantially right angles thereto and then converging inwardly toward each other to provide resilient sections 28 on each arm. The extreme outer ends of the arms are then bent parallel to each other and in slightly spaced relationship, whereby an elongate lever arm 29 may be pivotally mounted therebetween on a pin or rivet 30, as clearly shown in Figure 5.

The elongate lever arm is provided at one end with a hook member 31 having a spiral wedge surface 32 formed thereon which is inwardly convergent with a lessening radius centering about the pivot pin 30, in the same manner as the wedge surface If of the form first described. At the extreme inner end of the Wedge surface the curve is provided with a locking portion 33 which is concentric with the pivot pin 30, in the same manner as the concentric locking portion of the form first described.

The flat base portion 26 of the frame is provided with a transverse slot 34 located in a plane extending perpendicular to the base member through the pivot pin, and a latch member 35 having an opening 36 formed therein is adapted to extend through the opening and be engaged by the hook member 31 on the lever, in the same manner as the latch member of the form first described. The latch member 35 is shown as being in the form of an eyelet screw which is screw threaded into a support member 37 against which the base member is to be clamped.

When the base member has been postiioned so that the eyelet latch member 35 extends through the opening 34 in the base member of the frame, the lever arm may be swung to move the hook member 31 through the eyelet opening of said latch member. The wedge surface 32 of the hook member will engage the outer portion of the eyelet opening and draw the pivot pin 36 downwardly as such wedge surface is moved by the lever arm. When the lever arm has been moved through a sufiicient arc to bring the concentric latching portion 33 of the wedge surface into engagement with the opening in the latch member, the lever arm may be released, whereupon the parts will remain in such latched position because of the balance of forces preventing pivotal movement of the lever in the same manner as the form first described.

The resilient portions 28 of the arms are yieldable to perunit the pivot pin 30 to be drawn toward the latch member by the wedge, to positively resiliently hold the frame in engagement with the supporting member 37. If desired, the lever member may be provided with an abutment surface 38 which is so disposed that it will abut against the base portion 26 of the frame when the lever arm is moved into latching position and the concentric portion 33 of the wedge surface is in engagement with the latch member. This abutment surface provides for supporting the outer end of the lever arm when articles are supported on said lever arm. If desired, the lever arm may be formed with a pair of oppositely directed supporting and securing wings 39 by means of which a supporting platform may be secured to the lever arm so as to be supported by the clamping fastener.

A further slightly modified form of the invention is illustrated in Figures 6 and 7. In this form of the invention the frame member 40 is provided with a large substantially fiat base portion 41 having resilient arms 42 extending vertically outwardly on opposite sides of the base member and converging inwardly to form resilient portions 44. The extreme outer portions of the arms are then bent parallel to each other in slightly spaced relationship and are adapted to receive a lever member 45, substantially identical to the lever member 16 of the form first described, which is pivotally mounted on a pin or rivet 48 extending through the arm ends and lever. The lever member is provided with a hook member 46 having a spiral wedge surface 47 formed thereon. The wedge surface is convergent inwardly with a decreasing radius about the pivot pin 48 on which the lever arm is pivotally supported. At the extreme inner end of the curved wedge surface, the curve is formed with a latch portion 53 concentric with the pivot pin 48, in the same manner as the concentric latching portion 20 of the form first described. The base portion 41 of the frame is provided with a central transverse opening 49 through which a latch member 50 having an opening 51 therein may extend so as to be engaged by the hook member 46 of the lever arm. In use, the base member is positioned over the latch member so that the latch member extends inwardly through the opening 49 and is in position to be engaged by the hook member 46 on the lever arm. When the lever arm is swung, the wedge surface 47 on the hook" member engages in the opening 51 in the latch member to securely resiliently clamp the frame 40 to the support 52 into which the latch member 50 is screw threaded. When the concentric latch portion of the curved wedge surface is moved into engagement with the eyelet opening of the latch member, the lever arm remains in latching position. The frame 40 is thus positively resiliently latched in engagement with the supporting member 52 in the same manner as was the frame of the previous form of the invention.

A still further modification of the invention is shown in Figures 9 and 10, and is particularly adapted for resiliently clamping and supporting conduits and the like.

In this form of the invention, the frame is provided with a base portion 61 having a pair of opposed outwardly extending arms 62 formed integral therewith.

The base portion 61 of the frame is preferably formed with a concave cylindrical surface 63 extending between the arms on each side of such base member. The arms extend outwardly from the base portion and then converge inwardly toward each other to form resilient supporting portions in the same manner as the form just described. The outer portions of the arms are then bent parallel to each other and are spaced apart to receive an elongate clamping lever arm 64 which is pivotally mounted on a pin or rivet 65 extending through the arms and lever.

The elongate lever arm is bent outwardly adjacent the pivot pin 65 and extends beyond and around the base portion 61 of the frame to provide a large hook member'- 66. The hook member has a spiral wedge surface 67 formed thereon which is inwardly convergent with a lessening radius centering about the pivot pin 65. Spaced inwardly from the end of the hook member, the curve of the wedge surface is formed concentric with the pivot pin to provide a locking portion 68 similar to the locking portion of the hooks of the forms previously described."

In use, the concave cylindrical portion 63 of the base member is placed against a pipe or conduit 7 0 and the hook is then swung to bring the wedge surface 67 into contact with the conduit to press the same firmly against such concave portion of the base member. The resilient portions of the arms permit the base member to yield as the pipe is clamped between said base member and the hook.

When the hook has been swung so that the lever arm 64 is in substantial alignment with the elongate outer'portions of the arms of the frame, as shown in Figure 9, the

5. concentric locking portion 68'bf the curvedjwedge surface? is brought into engagement with the conduit; 'xvne'reby "the force's acting juponthe lever arm" are: balanced t to prevent undesired pivotal 'movemenfofthelever in the same manner' asthe""forrns' ofthe latching clamp"pr.eviously de scribed? I I h Both'the lever arm andthe ar'ms"of'the' frameare pro-'- vided with plurality'of openings 71fthrou'gh whichboltsn may be inserted toform 'an auxiliary l'ock'po'sitively holding the hook in clamping positionfsouh'at the pipe or conduit is positively grippedbetween thehook-andthe concave portion of the'- =frame base membeFandcannof readily be 'dislodged'therefrom N If desired, the 'lever'arm'm'ay' extend beyond the ends of the arms of the-frame and beprovided"withaddi-' 15 tional openings 73 through-which screws" may be inserted to fasten the 'leverfarm'"to a supporting wall or other structure.- Also, if desired'th 'elong'ate"armsof the frame may extend beyondthe'end'of -the lever arm and be pro-" vided'withopenings orfiari'g'es'fnotsh'own) by means of 20 which thefram'e may'besecured to"a 'supp'ortingwall or" other structure. Thus,"th isfor'm ofthe' 'clainpmiavbe used for supporting conduit; pipe orothercylind-rical ob jects.

From the foregoing, it will be seen-that--a clamp fastener has been provided wherein a lever member is formed with a spiral wedge-convergent towaraa shaft or pivot pin on 'which' the lever member "is -rotatable, saidf'spiral wedge drawing-thvmember do e-"clamped toward the shaft to clamp the frameof-the'--fastehercarryingthe 30 shaft securely tome-objectbeing-clamped? It is likewise important to note that-thespiral-wedge'of the lever'member curves inwardly with-a -deerea-sing ra'dius aboutthe" center ofthe pivotpinor shaft-upori which the lever armis rotated, and that' a concentriclocking' portion is formed in the wedge curve which is adapted to engage with the latch member or anicle'beingclanr ed' 'wh'eh thelever" is moved to fastening position, whereby the lever member is held against undesired pivotal movement and the parts of the fastener are locked together.

It will also be noted that the fastener is provided with a frame having a resilient portion interposed between the base member of the frame and the shaft upon which the lever arm is rotated so that objects clamped with the fastener are positively resiliently held in clamped position. 4

lt will also be seen that the fastener of the invention is adapted for supporting various articles and for clamping various articles together.

The foregoing description of the invention is explanatory only, and changes in the details of the construction illustrated may be made by those skilled in the art, within the scope of the appended claims, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A clamp fastener including, a frame having a base portion and resilient supporting arms extending outwardly from said base portion, a lever member pivotally mounted between the outer ends of the arms of the base member, a hook member on said lever member and having a wedge surface formed thereon facing inwardly toward and converging inwardly toward the pivotal mounting of the lever arm and at its inner end having an arcuate latching portion concentric with the pivotal mounting of the lever arm and spaced inwardly toward the pivot from the outer end of the hook wedge surface, said hook member being adapted 6 to engage a latch member having an opening therein for receiving said hook member and said wedge surface being adapted to draw said latch member toward the pivotal mounting of the lever member until the latch member is engaged in the latching portion when said lever member is swung on the pivotal mounting. V

2. A clamp fastener including, a frame member having a base portion and resilient arms extending'outwardly from said base portion, a lever member pivotally mounted on said arms at a point spaced from the base of the frame; said l'ever'membe'r being disposed 'to swingu -tza pivotalmounting in a plane normal to -the"bas'eportionof'the" frame'membe'r;a hook'po'rtion formed'enahfiever arnr'spaced from the piv'otal mounting and having aspiral" wedgesurfaceconverging inwardlytowardand facifig Said pivotal mounting an'da latching port-ion at its"i'nher"e'nd concentric-with said pivo tal mounting, and 'a latc'h'in'e mounting of the lever arm;

3. A "clamp fastener ineludirig,;'a frame having .3 base? portionand resilient'supporting' arms 'extend'in gbutwardly f from'said base-portitinin -spaced relationshipfa pivotshaft carried adjacent the'outer ends of 'sai'dfsupporting arm's anddis po'sed in a plane" parallel-to said ba s'epo'rtioh',"a leve'r 'arm fulcrumed onsaid pivot shaft"'and"'disposedto sw'ingin a plane normal to said base portionfa hook po tion forined on said-lever-arm" spaced from th p'iv'oflshaft and havingia spiral wedge surface '-thereon converging in-'"" wardly' towar'd 'andfacing saidpivots'haft, the inn'er por tionf'of said wedge surface being 'formedconcentric with saidpivot shaft' to provide a latchingportioh,"and a latch member having an opening engagea'ble 'by' the hook pot tior'rof'theleverwhcreby the latch member'may be drawnf' toward thepivor's'haffby the wedgesurf'ac'e' on said hook portion whn'thelever' armis swung; the engagementof the concentric latching portion'with the latch member pr ventingundesired pivotal movement of't h' lever arm n the shaft after-said latch member has benf drawirby the wedge"surface" towardthe pivotal mounting of the lever arm.

4. A clamp fastener including, a frame having a base portion and resilient supporting arms extending outwardly from said base portion, a pivot member carried by the-. supporting arms disposed parallel to and spaced outwardly from the the base portion of the frame, a lever member fulcrumed on said pivot member between the arms of the base member for pivotal movement about an axis disposed parallel to the plane of said base portion, a hook member on said lever member having a wedge sur face formed thereon converging inwardly toward and facing the pivot member and having an arcuate latching portion concentric with the pivot member and spaced inwardly toward the pivot member from the outer end of the wedge surface of the hook member, said lever member being swingable on the pivot member and adapted to engage and to draw an article to be clamped against the base portion of the frame, the engagement of the concentric latching portion of the hook member with the article being clamped providing for releasably holding the lever member in latching position after the article has been drawn against the base portion of the frame, the resilient arms of the base member providing a resilient support for the lever member.

5. A clamp fastener including, a frame having a base portion and supporting arms extending outwardly from said base portion in spaced relationship, a pivot pin carried adjacent the outer ends of said supporting arms, a lever member fulcrumed on said pivot pin and disposed to swing thereon in a plane normal to the base portion of the frame, the supporting arms being formed to provide a resilient section in said lever arms between the base portion of the frame and the pivot pin whereby the lever member is resiliently supported with respect to the base portion of the frame, a hook member formed on the lever arm spaced from the pivot pin and having a spiral wedge surface thereon converging inwardly toward and facing said pivot pin, the inner portion of said wedge surface being formed concentric with said pivot pin to provide a latching portion, and a latch member having an opening therein and adapted to be positioned between the .arms of the frame whereby the hook portion of the lever member may engage in the opening in said latch member to draw the pivot pin toward the base portion of the frame when the lever arm is swung, the engagement of the concentric latching portion of the hook member with the latch member preventing undesired pivotal movement of the lever member on the pivot pin.

6. A clamp fastener including, a frame having a substantially flat rectangular base portion with an opening therein, supporting arms extending outwardly from said base portion in spaced relationship and having a resilient section intermediate their ends, a pivot pin carried adjacent the outer ends of said supporting arms, a lever arm fulcrumed on said pivot pin between the supporting arms and disposed to swing on said pin in a plane normal to the flat base portion of the frame, a hook formed on the lever arm spaced from the pivot pin and having a spiral wedge surface thereon converging inwardly with a decreasing radius toward'and facing said pivot pin, the inner portion of said wedge surface being formed concentric with said pivot pin to provide a latching portion, and a latch member having an eyelet opening therein arranged to be connected to a support member and to extend inwardly through the opening in the base portion of the frame to a position between the supporting arms whereby the hook of the lever arm may engage in the eyelet opening of the latch member when the lever arm is swung, the wedge surface on said hook drawing the base member toward the support member to which the latch member is connected, the engagement of the concentric latching portion of the hook wedge surface with the latch member preventing undesired pivotal movement of the lever arm on the shaft, the resilient portions of the supporting arms providing a resilient support for the lever arm whereby the frame is resiliently latched in engagement with the support member.

7. A clamp fastener including, a frame member having a'base portion and resilient arms extending outwardly from said base portion, a lever member mounted on said arms at a point spaced from the base of the frame for pivotal movement about an axis parallel to the base of the frame in a plane normal to the base portion of the frame, a hook portion formed on the lever arm spaced from the pivotal mounting and having a spiral wedge converging inwardly toward and facing said pivotal mounting and a latching portion merging with said wedge surface and concentric with said pivotal mounting, and a latch member having an opening therein adapted to receive the hook portion of the lever arm and engage the wedge surface thereon whereby the lever arm may be swung to draw the latch member toward the pivotal mounting of the lever arm, the concentric latching portion of the wedge surface of the hook of the lever arm being disposed to engage the latch member for preventing undesired pivotal movement of the lever member after said latch member has been drawn by said wedge surface toward the pivotal mounting of the lever arm.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 73,193 Overholtzer Jan. 7, 1868 222,241 Camp Dec. 2, 1879 774,229 Borein Nov. 8, 1904 1,077,489 Parrish Nov. 4, 1913 1,892,613 Edgin Dec. 27, 1932 1,954,935 Karnes Apr. 17, 1934 2,123,695 Elmer July 12, 1938 2,426,498 Frankiin Aug. 26, 1947 I FOREIGN PATENTS 62,658 Norway July 1, 1940 

